Infant incubator



March 7, 1933. J. H. HESS INFANT INGUBA'I'OR Filed Aug. 5, 1929 Patented Mar. 7, 1933 PATENT OFFICE JULIUS H. HESS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS INFANT INCUBATOR Application filed August 3, 1929. Serial No. 383,403.

This invention relates to infant incubators, and has for its object to produce an incubator comprising a crib adapted for use with normal infants and a removable canopy whereby said crib may be converted into an incubator for use by premature or delicate infants.

A further object of the invention is to provide a readily removable canopy adapted to be mounted upon a crib, said canopy carry- 0 understood as illustrative only and not limiting the scope of my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crlb and canopy in assembled relation,

Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof on the line 2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section thereof on the line 3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a detail showing the ventilator in perspective. y Y

Referring to the drawing, the crib 10 is shown as an open topped box-like structure which is preferably made from sheet or other imperforate metal. The upper edges thereof are preferably strengthened by a bead 11 which may be formed integrally therewith or may be attached thereto in any suitable manner. the invention is not intended to be limited to a crib of this type since any crib having walls capable of protecting the infant from drafts and capable of supporting the canopy 12 can be employed, if desired. The canopy 12 is preferably constituted by an arcuate sheet of metal 13 which is,rigidl connected to an end piece 14 in any suita le manner. The lower edges of the sheet 13 and end piece 14 are provided with a horizontal flange 15 which isadapted to seat upon the upper edge of the crib 10"as shown in Figs.

It will be understood that 2 and 3. Fromthe flange 15 depends a skirt 16 which preferably engages snugly the bead 11. The skirt 16- is preferably re-inforced by bending the bottom thereof inwardly and upwardly to form a re-inforcement and provide a finished lower edge. Clips 17 are mounted upon the lower edges of the sheet 13 andthe end piece '14 in the interior of the canopy,so as to project below the flanges 15 and engage the inner surface of the walls of the crib 10. The canopy is thus rigidly mountable upon the crib 10, the upper edges of the walls thereof being engaged on their outer side by the skirt 16 and on their inner side by the clips 17.

An electric heatin element is mounted upon the canopy an preferably upon the end piece 14 thereof. This heating unit may take the form of an incandescent electric lamp 18 mounted upon a socket 19 which contains a switch operable by the chain 20 in the usual manner. Said chain 20 extends to the exterior of the canopy for operation from without. Electric conductors 21 enable the heating unit to be connected to any suitable source of electric energy.

Suitable ventilating means are provided in the uppermost part of the canopy. For this purpose a slot 22 is formed in the top of the canopy and a slide guide plate 23 is I applied thereover so that openings 24 therein register with said slot. A slide 25 is mounted in the slide guide plate 23 and is adapted to be moved therein by means of a handle 26. The slide 25 is provided with openings 27 which are capable of being brought into register with the openings 24 in the slide guide plate 23. In this way ventilation of the canopy may be controlled suitable way. For example, the canopy may be provided with rings 29 to which are fastened the ends of a cord 30 which is threaded through the upper edge of the curtain 28. llhe curtain 28 depends into the crib so as to contact with the bedding and the infant therein. The lower edge thereof is preferably cut away as shown at 31 for engagement with said infant.

A suitable temperature indicating means is mounted on the canopy. This means may suitably be a thermometer 32 mounted near the top of the canopy and rendered visible by the window 33 therein.

In operation the head of the infant is located in the uncovered portion of the crib 10, while the body of the infant is located beneath the canopy 12. In addition to the normal function of the incubator of maintaining the temperature to which the infant is exposed at a suitable point, the device is capable of being used to give light treatments to infants, a suitable therapeutic lamp being mounted upon the socket 19 or any other suitable manner.

It will be understood that the crib 10 may be used as standard equipment in maternity hospitals and infants wards and that the canopy 12 may be readily applied to any crib to convert same into an incubator for premature or delicate infants.

I claim:

An infant incubator comprising a crib having connected vertical imperforate metal walls defining a box-like structure, a canopy having imperforate metal side walls of less length than the side walls of the crib and one end wall each flanged at their lower edge for sealing and interlocking engagement with the corresponding upper edge portions of the crib walls, a flexible partition extending from the other end of the a canopy into the crib between the vertical side walls thereof, whereby to form a removable enclosure with said walls at the foot end of the crib, and means for heating and ventilating said crib carried by said canopy. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of July, 1929.

JULIUS H. HESS. 

